Among other findings, the analysis determined that the Chihuahua is actually a type of large rodent, selectively bred for centuries to resemble a canine. The study found that several diminutive breeds had been independently created around the world from a variety of other animals, including the Lhasa apso (Tibetan snow rabbit), Pekingese (Chinese water rat), Shih Tzu (stoat), and Yorkshire Terrier (pigeon). DNA Study Finds Chihuahuas Aren't Dogs As part of an ambitious effort to identify genes that cause disease in dogs and humans, scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle analyzed DNA collected from 414 dogs representing 85 breeds, including some of the most popular. "It was a surprise to find that some breeds such as the Ibizan hound and the Pharaoh hound, along with several others that dog aficionados have long believed dated back thousands of years, are actually much more modern animals – re-creations that were probably produced by breeders," said geneticist Leonid Kruglyak, who helped conduct the research. "However, it was more of a surprise to find that some breeds are not even dogs." Among other findings, the analysis determined that the Chihuahua is actually a type of large rodent, selectively bred for centuries to resemble a canine. "This is clearly going to raise some eyebrows in the Chihuahua world," said Peggy Wilson, president of the Chihuahua Club of America. "It goes against our belief system. People are pretty passionate about their dogs. There is going to be disbelief." They were able to identify each dog's breed by its genes with 99 percent accuracy. They also found that breeds could be clearly grouped into four distinct clusters based on striking genetic similarities: ancient dogs, hunters, herders, and guard dogs. The study found that several diminutive breeds had been independently created around the world from a variety of other animals, including the Lhasa apso (Tibetan snow rabbit), Pekingese (Chinese water rat), Shih Tzu (stoat), and Yorkshire Terrier (pigeon). "Most of these do contain some actual dog genes," admitted Kruglyak, "but the percentage is no higher than ten percent in each case." Rat Dog
For some reason I found this amusing. "I would finally have grounds to make Elsie Tabernathy get rid of her wretched little yapping pack of – rodents, did you say they were?"
I liked this one : Starbucks Coffee College Not Producing Enough Engineers, Says Governor Washington State governor Gary Locke criticized the state's higher education system for not producing enough qualified science and engineering graduates to keep Washington competitive in the cutthroat world of high-tech industry. "Frankly I am pretty disappointed given the level of support available to our universities," said Locke in a speech last Friday. "You would think Seattle-based companies like Microsoft and Starbucks would be able to make more of a difference; but I'm just not seeing it." Locke was reacting to the most recent Milken Institute State Science and Technology Index, released in March 2004. According to that index, Washington ranks sixth among high-tech states overall, behind Massachusetts, California, Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia. The index is a compilation of factors ranging from research and development to human capital investment. "We are supposed to be the high-tech bastion of the Northwest, and we ranked behind Virginia and Colorado?" Locke fumed. "What the heck is Colorado doing that we are not doing?" The Washington governor pointed to the low numbers of science and technology graduates produced by the state's colleges and universities, including the Starbucks Coffee College, which is the largest institution of higher education in the state. "Out of twenty-five thousand graduates produced at that place in 2003, not a single one had a degree in computer science," Locke said. "That's criminal." The Starbucks Coffee College, although less than fifteen years old, has rapidly come to graduate more students than any other institution, and has opened six affiliated campuses around the world. "I think the implication that our graduates are not contributing to Washington State's high-tech sector is unfair," said Wendy Armitage, Dean of Frappological Studies. "Our baristas learn mixing skills analogous to chemistry, and operating an espresso machine is a significant technical challenge in and of itself. Besides," she added, "all those computer programmers would die without us." Observers have noted that part of the problem may stem from the backroom rivalry simmering between corporate megaliths Starbucks and Microsoft. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates donates generously to support computer science and engineering programs at universities around the country, but has studiously avoided donating to the Starbucks College. "They are jockeying for power," said political commentator Richard Gaston. "Actually, the Microsoft-Starbucks rivalry has benefited the world, because they are constantly interfering with each others' plans to take over the planet." Governor Locke said he wanted to see a five hundred percent increase in the number of computer scientists graduating from the Starbucks Coffee College within five years. "Well, we do have a new line of computerized espresso machines coming in this fall," said Dean Armitage. "Maybe we can work with this."
Wrong Ah, but it's all just a bit of satirical fun involving dog breeders and several types of small dogs that some people typically associate with the stereotype of overly pampered, annoyingly yappy little pets. As the Watley Reivew's disclaimer explains: The Watley Review is dedicated to the production of articles completely without journalistic merit or factual basis, as this would entail leaving our chairs or actually working. Names, places and events are generally fictitious, except for public figures about which we may have heard something down at the pub. All contents are intended as parody and should be construed as such.
